Metamorphosis Part I Activity

Blank character, setting, and chapter-summary sections walk students through Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, closing with seven open-ended essay prompts on its themes.

An educational teaching resource from Learning with Alan entitled Novel Study Worksheets on "The Metamorphosis" by Frank Kafka downloadable at Teach Simple.

Grades: Grades 7–12
Pages: 3
File type: PDF
Preparation: Print ready

Updated Sep 19, 2024

Subject: Reading Comprehension, Reading, ELA
Topic: Novel Study, Literature
Resource types: Worksheets, Worksheets & Printables
Preparation: Print ready

From the author

About this resource

Novel Study Worksheets on "The Metamorphosis" by Frank Kafka

In this fantastic World Literature teaching resource it is offered a comprehensive novel study worksheet activity (3 printable PDF pages; Worksheets) focused on the novella "The Metamorphosis" by German speaking novelist Franz Kafka.

Perfect for post-reading exercises, this World Literature teaching resource can be more than great to deepen and improve students' understanding of this classic work.

This Novel Study activity (3 printable PDF pages; Worksheets) can be ideal for English and World Literature class students in middle and high school (from 7th grade to 12th grade, teen students).

In this Novel Study on “The Metamorphosis” (3 printable PDF pages; Worksheets), World Literature teachers can find the following activities:

1 section dedicated on general information (author's name, genre, and original language)
1 section dedicated on character descriptions (6 characters)
1 section dedicated on descriptions of key locations (6 places)
1 section decicated on chapter summaries (3 chapters)
1 section dedicated on a writing activity with 7 essay prompts (book review + 6 other novel related essay prompts)

This product is similar to Novel Study on "The Metamorphosis" - Franz Kafka - World Literature

The only great difference is the format (the product I linked before is a 6 slides printable project. This product instead is a more traditional worksheets activity)

This World Literature Novel Study Activity on "The Metamorphosis" by German Speaking author Franz Kafka (3 PDF Printable Slides; worksheets) can be great for learners from 7th grade to 12th grade to study this Novella (middle school and High School Students mostly)

Learning with Alan is a Teaching Resource/Educational Material Store whose aim is to help Teachers, Educators and Tutors to achieve their teaching objectives while creating a fun and stimulating learning and teaching environment. Remember. Learning is Fun. Never Forget!

If you want to browse more of my World Literature Literature Novel Study Activity Teaching Resources, click here Learning with Alan!

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Identify and describe the main characters' roles and relationships within the Samsa household
Summarize the events of each of the novella's three chapters in their own words
Analyze how Gregor's transformation symbolizes alienation, confinement, and dehumanization
Construct an argumentative or analytical essay response using evidence and reasoning from the novella
Research and explain the historical and social context in which Kafka wrote the novella

Teaching tips

Assign the general-information and character sections as students begin reading, so entries accumulate as new characters are introduced rather than all being filled in at the end
Have students complete each chapter-summary box right after finishing that chapter rather than after the whole novella, since the boxes are sized for a brief in-progress summary
Select a subset of the seven essay prompts for a single assignment, since each one (alienation, family dynamics, symbolism, humor, historical context) is broad enough to serve as its own standalone essay
Pair the historical-context prompt with brief outside research time, since it asks students to identify real events, technology, and philosophical movements from Kafka's era rather than details found in the novella itself

Skills covered

Character analysis — students record traits and relationships for six characters, including Gregor Samsa and the Office Manager, as they read.
Setting analysis — students identify and describe six key locations, from Gregor's bedroom to the lodgers' room, and their role in the story.
Literary theme analysis — students respond to essay prompts on alienation, isolation, confinement, and the symbolism of Gregor's transformation into an insect.
Historical-context research — students investigate the events, technology, and philosophy of Kafka's era and connect them to the novella.
Argumentative writing — students state and defend a personal opinion of the novella in a book-review response.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

How is the essay section organized?

The closing page offers seven separate essay prompts, from a personal book review to the novella's historical background, so a teacher can assign one prompt or several depending on the length of the writing task.

How are the character and setting sections structured?

Each character or location gets its own labeled blank space of several lines, covering six characters — including Gregor's parents and the office manager — and six locations across the Samsa household and Gregor's father's workplace.